title: Evaluation of arterial hypertension control and treatment in daily practice of family physicians.
abstract: THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY was to evaluate the percentage of patients with primary arterial hypertension treated with antihypertensive drug(s), who achieved target arterial blood pressure (ABP), and to compare the characteristics of patients with controlled and uncontrolled ABP, their current treatment, and treatment modifications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 429 18-80-year-old patients with primary arterial hypertension treated for ≥ 1 year participated in this study. General practitioners collected data on patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, current treatment for primary arterial hypertension, and treatment modifications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to physicians, 45.4% of patients achieved target ABP levels. Adequately controlled ABP was documented more often in the group of low and moderate cardiovascular risk than in high- and very high-risk group (n=141, 62.9% versus n=54, 26.3%; P<0.0001). Based on ABP measurements, 160 (37.3%) patients had ABP of <140/90 mm Hg. The majority of patients were treated with a combination of two (n=153, 35.7%) to three (n=144, 33.6%) antihypertensive drugs. Patients with uncontrolled ABP more frequently than patients with controlled ABP were given combination therapy. Treatment was not modified in 37.8% (n=162) of patients, more commonly in those with controlled ABP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of hypertension control in study population was far from optimal, especially in the group of patients at high- and very high-risk where target ABP was lower. Almost 12% of patients with uncontrolled ABP were still undergoing monotherapy, whereas 16% of patients were not recommended any modifications of antihypertensive treatment despite their ABP was not controlled.
authors.affiliation: "Sanofi-Aventis Lietuva," A. Juozapavičiaus 6/2, 09310 Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Zaneta
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Petrulionienė
authors.forename: Daiva Asta
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Apanavičienė
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents